Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria prediction, H2H and probable lineups — 31 December 2025
In the third round of the Africa Cup of Nations group stage, Equatorial Guinea will face off against Algeria. The match is set to take place in Rabat on Wednesday, December 31. Kickoff is scheduled for 17:00 Central European Time. My recommendation is a bet on the match's goal tally.
Match preview
Equatorial Guinea kicked off the tournament with a cautious approach, focusing on solid defense and minimizing mistakes at the back. In their opening match, the team suffered a defeat, struggling with creativity in attack and inefficiency from set pieces.
Their game plan against Burkina Faso was thrown off by Ndong's red card, but Obiang's side came close to pulling off a win. They took the lead in the 85th minute, despite being down a man, but hopes were dashed in stoppage time by conceding twice.
In the second round, Equatorial Guinea showed progress, creating plenty of chances against Sudan. The team pressed higher in midfield and made better use of quick counterattacks, but still couldn't find the net. A Koko own goal ultimately decided the match.
After two defeats, Equatorial Guinea are already mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Even a sensational victory over Algeria would not lift them from the bottom of the group.
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Algeria started the tournament with a confident win, showcasing attacking power and defensive solidity. The team displayed high-paced combination play and strong ball control in midfield, which allowed them to dominate Sudan and create numerous scoring opportunities.
A brace from Mahrez and a goal from Bayer Leverkusen youngster Ibrahim Maz secured Algeria's status as group favorites. The second match saw a similar pattern, though they managed to score just once.
Riyad Mahrez, thanks to a converted penalty, climbed to second on Algeria's all-time scorers list and, with three goals, leads the tournament's golden boot race.
The clash against Equatorial Guinea lacks any real intrigue—not only due to the clear difference in class, but also because of the group standings. Algeria have already secured top spot, so coach Petkovic may rotate his squad, giving key players a rest ahead of the knockout stage.
Match facts
- Equatorial Guinea have lost three games in a row.
- Algeria are unbeaten in regulation time in their last 18 matches.
- Equatorial Guinea average 0.6 goals per game, while Algeria average 2.2 goals per game.
Probable lineups
- Equatorial Guinea: Owono, Anieboh, Coco, Orozco, Akapo, Mascarell, Machin, Salvador, Asue, Miranda, Zuniga.
- Algeria: Zidan, Belghali, Mandi, Bensebaini, Ait Nouri, Boudaoui, Bennacer, Chaibi, Mahrez, Maza, Amoura.
H2H
In the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, Equatorial Guinea defeated Algeria for the only time in their history.
Prediction
Given Algeria's attacking firepower and Equatorial Guinea's desire to go out with a bang, this match could be a high-scoring affair. My suggestion is to back the total goals over 2.
